Entourage-8th and Final Season Discussion Thread

[VANFLAMESFAN]

New wallpaper. Thank you!

[Thor]

mole mole mole moleee.

[newts]

I enjoyed the season and the final episode. Going to miss this show. Looking forward to the movie.

[-TC-]

I'm going to miss those guys....

[Coach]

I'm responding before reading any one else's comments, but I know there are probably haters.

I really enjoyed it. It really made me want to pop in the next disc and keep watching. The final scene definitely set it up for a movie, an movie that is centered around Ari which is just fine by me.

Vince's wedding was definitely forced, and I was a little confused as to whether or not he had actually asked her until the end because he was looking at engagement rings. I thought he was going to propose and she was going to say no.

That said I think the strength of the finally rode on a few very good scenes between characters rather than the overlying story. Turtle, Drama, and ultimately Vince convincing Sloan to stay with E were very good scenes and got back to what the show was about, true friendship between these guys. Drama also had some hilarious lines, as usual. The scene with Ari and his wife in therapy was very good because they made it seem like they were going to stay together right then but didnt. And then Ari quitting was amazing. Piven makes or breaks this show without a doubt, just fantastic acting on his part.

I've been watching this show since I was about 15 so I will really miss it and hopefully they do the movie right.

[3 Justin 3]

I need to lie more often, just cross those balls!

[valo403]

For those of you who were more into the hustling to make it elements the show had in the early seasons check out How to Make it in America, it looks like it's going to push that angle with a bit more glamour than it did in the first season.

[Da_Chief]

Didn't see the Vince wedding at all. Oh well, he's not really a main character anyways.

E and Sloan were bound to get back together. Nothing surprising there. But lame way of forgetting what Eric did while they weren't together.

Turtle and Drama are still the clowns.

Ari will go back to his old ways but haven't we seen what happens when its work for him? The movie might focus more on the whole NFL saga to LA for Ari's character. As Mrs. Ari tells him to go and work after she gets tired of him.

It's an ending, nothing crazy good or bad.

I just don't know what they can do for the movie.

We've seen E's rise, going from pizza boy to hot shot manager, having women problem, having work issues.

Vince has gone from star to drub abuse and career in downfall and back to top. He's had his women and now is married.

Drama has seen his bad times and he's onto good times, plz don't start a Drama romance.

Turtle has seen all the crap too, mooching off of Vince, trying his own thing. Lady problems.

If they were to just to make a comedy without all the BS then that would make much more sense imo.

[Sainters7]

Finally got to watch the finale, was gonna make some long post about how crappy it was and why, but I'll just keep it as it was crappy. Just appalled at how they wrecked Ari that whole season. That whole scene when they were pumping the opera music in his office and he was running back to his wife and quit his job, I was just blown away at how they had him acting. Could that be any further from the true Ari Gold character? C'mon man.

I was quite relieved to see that final scene after the credits, as it actually saves the chance that the REAL Ari Gold could return for the movie. That angle got me pumped for it actually. Over-all though, just very disappointed with this season, especially after how good it was last year.

At least Drama went out on a beauty line, I heart that guy. After he said it and got on the plane, that was the only time I felt sad about the show ending, no more Johnny. Too bad they never really figured out what to do with him the last few seasons. IMO he should've played a much more prominant role.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Finally got to watch the finale, was gonna make some long post about how crappy it was and why, but I'll just keep it as it was crappy. Just appalled at how they wrecked Ari that whole season. That whole scene when they were pumping the opera music in his office and he was running back to his wife and quit his job, I was just blown away at how they had him acting. Could that be any further from the true Ari Gold character? C'mon man.

Actually that scene was inline with Ari of the last couple seasons, the only thing out of place was him actually quitting.

From day 1 he was always the cutthroat agent at work, but his family was always admittedly the most important aspect of his life.

Really the Ari storyline was the only redeeming quality of the season and leaving it where we could see the return of the "real" Ari made the storyline even more realistic.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Finally got to watch the finale, was gonna make some long post about how crappy it was and why, but I'll just keep it as it was crappy. Just appalled at how they wrecked Ari that whole season. That whole scene when they were pumping the opera music in his office and he was running back to his wife and quit his job, I was just blown away at how they had him acting. Could that be any further from the true Ari Gold character? C'mon man.

I was quite relieved to see that final scene after the credits, as it actually saves the chance that the REAL Ari Gold could return for the movie. That angle got me pumped for it actually. Over-all though, just very disappointed with this season, especially after how good it was last year.

At least Drama went out on a beauty line, I heart that guy. After he said it and got on the plane, that was the only time I felt sad about the show ending, no more Johnny. Too bad they never really figured out what to do with him the last few seasons. IMO he should've played a much more prominant role.

I think the whole "Real Ari" thinking shows a lack of an ability to see depth in characters. That character was never just a one dimensional person who was a tyrant around the office and dropped great lines, there was always far more depth and it was shown frequently. His attempts to keep up a facade of lacking any caring or vulnerability, and the manner in which that lead to the near end of his marriage and cost him his shot at an NFL team were all part of the character. I'd say these last few episodes was much more of the "real Ari" than we ever saw.

[robocop]

Everyone expecting more misjudged the show. It never was a sweeping epic with perfect narratives and classic storylines, the old episodes they got high and partied. For a show that started around 4 buddies goofing off and discovering money I thought the ending was fine. It was pretty much exactly what one should expect from a show of its genre, feel good happy ending and comraderie.... with a little twist. Should E have been forgiven so quickly? Should Vince have gotten married so quick? It doesn't really matter, it was the 8th season and the people making it are ready to move on.

[d_phaneuf]

season 2 and 3 had some very good and compelling storylines, they were both funny as well

season 7 was very compelling and much more of a drama

[J pold]

Finally got around to watching the episode last night. I’m going to list my thoughts on a character basis.

Ari – I actually really enjoyed how they wrapped things up with his wife. I know some were disappointed as to how his character changed in the last season but I didn’t mind it at all. Ari needed to develop, and while it was rushed, and a bit forced, it was good to see a different side of Ari. I thought he was going to quit, and I wasn’t upset that he did, but I was pretty disappointed in how it actually went down. I really thought it was going to be a bit more Ari-esq more screaming, more yelling, more insults and epic profanity – a throwback to the old Ari. Also I’m going to pile Lloyd in with Ari, his little roll-up-at-the-perfect-moment and pour his heart out to Ari was lame and unnecessary. I don’t think that there are too many people who watched the finale and would think “oh no! They didn’t provide any closure for Lloyd! What’s going to happen to him?!”

Vince – I remember thinking to myself after the second last episode ‘ha! I wonder if in an attempt to rush and try to tie up Vince’s loose ends, some lazy writer just has him getting married after one date with Sophia’. But then I realized that even for a show like Entourage something that lazy and uninspired is beneath them, now I realize that it’s actually not. I find it mind blowing that for three episodes they portray this girl as reasonable, and level headed and yet they expect us to believe that over one date (which we never got to see) that she does a total 180 and now wants to marry Vince!? Just ridiculous.

Eric (+Sloan) – It was a nice attempt to make a mends and I thought they did a decent job in trying to make them get back together, but throughout this entire final season the writers had done so much damage to their relationship that I can’t buy them getting back together. I also find it kind of strange that the only way that Sloan wanted to give it another chance was by everyone lying about Eric and Melinda. Furthermore they kind of left it open ended with Terrance, I mean the man says he is going to hunt Eric down (or something to that effect) what does that mean? Possibly a plot line for the movie? Anyway the likeability of their relationship has long since died and the final ditch effort to make it good again just couldn’t put humpy back together again.

Turtle – Was once a really likable character and faded down the stretch. Honestly if they didn’t have a story for him for this entire final season, if he just would have been there, that would have been fine with me. His success and or failures don’t really matter to me at all.

Johnny – Highlight of the final season for me. He’s the only one that still embodies the older Entourage, when it was at its peak. Had some great lines in the final season and am glad he is ending it on a high note.

Overall this final season just left something to be desired. It kind of reminded me of the final season of Arrested Development, when they had to wrap everything up in three episodes, expect Entourage knew it was coming. It was just strange, they started all these different story lines with two episodes left, and then forcibly, and lazily ended them and left more just sitting there. I was disappointed in how it all ended but overall from top to bottom it was still a great show that I really enjoyed. It was fun Entourage.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by valo403

I think the whole "Real Ari" thinking shows a lack of an ability to see depth in characters. That character was never just a one dimensional person who was a tyrant around the office and dropped great lines, there was always far more depth and it was shown frequently. His attempts to keep up a facade of lacking any caring or vulnerability, and the manner in which that lead to the near end of his marriage and cost him his shot at an NFL team were all part of the character. I'd say these last few episodes was much more of the "real Ari" than we ever saw.

I just watched the season 4 episode where Ari started crying at the headmaster's house when his son couldn't get into that school. And those weren't crocodile tears either.

And in the episode before that he went to Lloyd's ex b/f and lied to get Lloyd back together with the guy and back to work.

Oh and another one, he showed extreme vulnerability and jealousy when his wife did a cameo on a Soap and had to kiss some guy.

This isn't the first time we've seen the softer, vunerable side of Ari.

[Bezer]

I wanted to gouge my eyes out with a rusty fork after watching the final episode. Terrible writing to end a great show (well season 1-5 anyway). Over the summer I watched season 1-5 again and loved it. There is definitely "off" episode but nothing like season 8. I would of hated not having closure with Entourage but I now wish they would of just ended it with out having the abortion that is season 8. I did however like "Second to Last" episode because it had tinges of the earlier seasons but man did the writers just mail this season in.

[Sainters7]

I understand that obviously there's more to the Ari Gold character than the snapshow we've seen at the office for most of the series, another example being when he got fired and got a ride back to his house from Lloyd in the Fast & the Furious car. But when I say "real Ari", I mean I want the Ari they've given us for the first 7 years. The one who's character won Jeremy Piven 4 Emmy's, and made the show famous for. Not this weeping emo they've given us the entire season.

Maybe some of you like this deeper dive into Ari's character, opening a softer, more human side to him. As well as showing off Piven's versatility as an actor. But to me this show has always been light, and thus has always come down to entertainment. And I just don't find this softer version entertaining. Ari passionately crying & quitting his job to a romantic opera backdrop and running off with his wife to Italy to live happily ever after...that's not why I watch this show. Its never been that kind of show, why start now?

For me, there was just way too much chicky, Friends finale-type stuff the last episode. If you enjoyed it, great. I didn't, and felt it was out of character for the series. Hopefully the movie will be better, the scene after the credits gave me hope.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by J pold

Turtle – Was once a really likable character and faded down the stretch. Honestly if they didn’t have a story for him for this entire final season, if he just would have been there, that would have been fine with me. His success and or failures don’t really matter to me at all.

Johnny – Highlight of the final season for me. He’s the only one that still embodies the older Entourage, when it was at its peak. Had some great lines in the final season and am glad he is ending it on a high note.

Agreed. I also haven't liked Turtle for awhile, and forgot I ever did until I re-watched some older episodes with him. The best was when him & Johnny played comic relief in the earlier seasons, like the dog park episode, or crossing swords in the mountains.

Also agreed that Johnny is easily the one who's stayed closest to his original character. No more Drama definitely had me a little depressed at the end of the finale.

[DrJ]

I started watching Entourage for the hot chicks after a recommendation. It became much more than that and I can definitely appreciate a lot of the comments here with character and plot analyses. However, for me, it's 30 minutes of fun when I need a quick break or am working out and I save my critical analysis for the Breaking Bad's etc. of TV.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I just watched the season 4 episode where Ari started crying at the headmaster's house when his son couldn't get into that school. And those weren't crocodile tears either.

And in the episode before that he went to Lloyd's ex b/f and lied to get Lloyd back together with the guy and back to work.

Oh and another one, he showed extreme vulnerability and jealousy when his wife did a cameo on a Soap and had to kiss some guy.

This isn't the first time we've seen the softer, vunerable side of Ari.

Completely agree, this character has been built to get to this point. Of all the characters in the show this is the one that they really developed into a fully rounded character and I'm pretty happy that they took that through to the final episode. A lot of these characters were one dimensional, which is fine, but the knew where the acting chops on the show resided and allowed that to be utilized fully. I can get people liking a more mindless version, but to me the way they utilized Piven was excellent.